What the Bible says about light and seed

The True Light "In him, (the Lord Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world,…the world didn’t recognize him." John 1:4,9.

The Good Seed and the Weeds “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seeds in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.”Matthew 13:24,25.

Friday, July 3, 2015

The Case for Eternal Punishment

“And
they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled
against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched,
and they will be loathsome to all mankind.” (Isaiah 66:24)Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)Then
he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Then they
will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. (Matt. 25:41,46)Then
death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is
the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of
life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:14-15)

For
most of mankind’s existence the belief that punishment for unbelievers
is eternal was taken for granted. The above verses are the basis for
this point of view. It’s become known as the traditional view of hell.

Recently an alternative, called the conditional view, has come on the scene. This view is based primarily on Rev. 20:12
which says the unsaved dead will be judged according to their works.
Proponents of the conditional view interpret this verse to mean that
while no unbeliever can go to heaven, their punishment in hell will be
based on the quality of their lives while on Earth. They contend that
those who’ve led meritorious lives on Earth but aren’t believers will
receive less severe punishment for a shorter period of time than say a
Hitler or Stalin before being destroyed altogether. They claim that this
view makes more sense because it shows God to be fair, making the
punishment fit the crime so to speak, before mercifully ending their
existence altogether.

On the surface it seems to make sense and
some people are more comfortable with this view than the traditional one
that appears excessively harsh to them and serves no purpose other than
making people suffer. But is the conditional view the result of greater
enlightenment in our understanding of Scripture or just another in a
long line of attempts to re-cast God’s word into a kinder gentler
document as it pertains to those who’ve rejected Him?

My Ways Are Not Your Ways

A
closer look reveals that the idea of a conditional hell is decidedly
biased toward the world view of unbelievers. Conditional hell proponents
say, “All they did is not believe that Jesus died for them. Other than
that many unbelievers tried to live a good life and helped a fair
amount of people along the way. What did they do to deserve eternal
punishment?” (Notice the emphasis on good works here?)

What these folks don’t seem to realize is that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
No amount of good works and kindness toward others will make up for the
deficiency of unbelief. The truth is they will have failed to do the
only thing God required of them.Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29)

If
God is going to judge unbelievers by how they’ve done the work He
requires of them, it’ll all be over pretty quickly because without
belief in Jesus even the good they might have accomplished is considered
evil in God’s sight. How do I know that? Read the Lord’s own words;Many
will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your
name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then
I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you
evildoers!’ (Matt. 7:22-23)

They will claim
to have performed miracles in His name, but the Lord will deny ever
knowing them, calling them evil doers. So much for the value of a
meritorious life apart from faith in Him!And in John 15:5 He said, “I
am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in
him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Unbelievers
don’t think rejecting the Lord is a big deal because they don’t realize
that their rejection of His sacrifice for their sins has eternal
consequences. Because of their unbelief they’re only thinking in terms
of a 70-80 year lifespan, not an eternal existence. So let’s take a
look at this from the eternal perspective and try to understand how
different it is.

First let’s understand that the man who is
executed or given life in prison for taking someone’s life is not being
taught that murder is wrong. He’s suffering the consequence of his crime
by forfeiting the balance of his physical life . It’s an adaptation of
the Biblical injunction, a life for a life (Lev. 24:17). On Earth we’re in a physical environment so it’s a physical life for a physical life.

But
a person who rejects the pardon God provided for him has in effect
murdered his own soul and spirit. Both are eternal, so there has to be
an eternal consequence to fit the crime. Our physical bodies are only
intended to serve a temporary purpose, and that’s to house the eternal
part of us for a little while. Compared to our eternal existence,
putting our physical existence to death is a minor infraction. Refusing
to accept the Lord’s completed work on the cross as payment in full for
our sins is a crime against our eternal life and therefore the only
just punishment is eternal punishment.

Is Everyone Destined For Hell?

Recently
someone challenged me to prove from the Bible that all mankind is
destined for hell. He said by that he meant an actual place where one
will spend eternity. This person, like many others, doesn’t realize
that hell is not an eternal destination, but only a temporary place of
torment while one awaits his or her final judgment. So first let’s see
if there’s a place that says everyone is destined for hell.“Therefore,
just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin,
and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

A
surface reading of that verse alone might lead one to conclude that
Paul was just talking about the death of the body here. After all it was
sin entering the world that caused man’s physical life to change from
immortal to mortal.But if we read on and take the entire passage in context we see Paul wasn’t just talking about physical death. For example, in Romans 5:18 He wrote, “Consequently,
just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also
one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.”

Here
we can see he had to be talking about eternal life because the Lord’s
one act of righteousness did not prevent the physical bodies of
believers from dying.Therefore, since we’re all sinners we are
all condemned. But by accepting the Lord’s death as payment in full for
our sins we can escape condemnation and death and receive justification
and eternal life instead.

What Does The Bible Say?

The account of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
gives us the Bible’s clearest picture of what happens after we die. In
comparing what happened to these men, the differences in their
experience become obvious.When Lazarus died he was carried to a
place the Jews called Abraham’s side because Abraham, the father of the
faithful, was there to comfort them. But when the rich man died he went
to hell (Greek, hades). Abraham and the rich man could see each other
and communicate back and forth so we know Abraham’s side and Hades were
in the same general location.

In the Old Testament these two
destinations were known by the single name of Sheol, the “abode of the
dead.” Upon dying, everyone went there. It’s where Jonah’s spirit went
while his body languished in the belly of the whale (Jonah 2:2,6).

From the New Testament we learn that Sheol contained two compartments, separated by a wide chasm, impossible to cross (Luke 16:26).
One side was a place of comfort where believers went to await Heaven’s
opening after the cross. That’s where Lazarus was. In Greek it was
called Paradise, a name that evoked memories of the Garden of Eden.The other side was a place of torment reserved for unbelievers, and that’s where the rich man was.

After His resurrection, Jesus took the spirits of the believing dead from Paradise with Him to Heaven (Ephes. 4:8).
Those who are in hell will remain there in torment until their final
judgment at the end of the Millennium, which is still over 1,000 years
in the future to us. At that time, Rev. 20:14 tells
us, death and Hades will give up the dead who are in them and each
person will be judged according to what has been recorded in the books
kept in Heaven. Everyone whose name cannot be found in the book of life
will be thrown into the Lake of fire, which is the Second death. The
Lake of Fire is the final destiny of all unbelievers. Now, let’s see how
long they’ll remain there.

At the time of the 2nd coming, the Lord will conduct a judgment of all humans still alive on earth (Matt. 25:31-46).
People from all over the world will be brought to the Lord for His
determination of their spiritual condition. Those He judges to be
believers will be welcomed into the Millennial Kingdom (Matt. 25:34)
where they will help repopulate the earth. Those who are not will be
taken away to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt 25:41). Rev. 19:20 and Rev. 20:10 tell us this is a fiery lake of burning sulfur, while Rev. 20:14 simply calls it the lake of fire. They all refer to the same place, the final destiny of all unbelievers.

It’s a mistake to just read Rev. 20:10
and conclude that only the devil, the anti-Christ and the false prophet
will be tormented forever. It’s a mistake to just read Matt. 25:46 and conclude that only unbelieving tribulation survivors will be punished forever. And it’s a mistake to just read Daniel 12:2
and conclude that only unbelievers from Old Testament times will suffer
shame and everlasting contempt (abhorrence). All unbelievers from all
ages will go to the same place, the place of eternal punishment, and
all will suffer eternally.

And That’s Not All

But there’s
an even more powerful legal argument for eternal punishment that for
centuries was modeled in human existence as well. Until the mid 19th
Century it was common practice in many parts of the world to incarcerate
a person for failure to pay his or her debts. Jail time was not an
alternative method of repayment, it was the consequence they suffered
for their inability to pay their debts. No matter how long they were
locked up they still owed as much of their debt as they did on their
first day behind bars. They could only be freed by repaying the money
they owed. Jesus referred to this practice in His parable of the
unmerciful servant (Matt. 18:23-35).

It’s the
same with our sins. Punishment is not an alternative method unbelievers
can use to pay the penalty for their sins, it’s the consequence they’ll
suffer for their inability to pay the penalty. No matter how long
people suffer in eternity, they will still owe the same penalty as they
did on day one. The only acceptable payment for sin is the blood of an
innocent person, and nothing else will suffice. Hebrews 9:22
explains that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Therefore no one can “work off” his or her penalty through suffering.

This
is the fatal flaw in the Catholic concept of purgatory. It calls for a
person who dies with certain unconfessed sins to “work off” the
penalty for those sins through their suffering and the intercessory
prayers of living relatives in order to qualify for entry into heaven.
But there’s only one way for humans to qualify for entry into heaven
and that’s by accepting the blood of Jesus as payment for our sins (John 3:3). Once we do that all of our sins are covered (Colossians 2:13-14). But we have to do it before we die (Hebr. 9:27) or else it’s too late.]It’s
also the flaw in the conditional view of hell. If the blood of Jesus
is the only way to be released from the penalty for our sins, then
there’s no release for those who reject it. No matter how numerous or
noteworthy, the “good works” unbelievers perform during their lifetime
can’t be applied to reduce their sentence and neither can the “time
served” after they die, so they’ll always owe the same penalty as they
did on day one of their incarceration.

The bottom line is the only
acceptable payment for our sins is the blood of a sinless man, and the
only sinless man is Jesus. He died for all the sins of mankind (John 1:29) but only those who choose to accept His death as payment for their sins can be forgiven (John 3:16).

Refusing to accept it leaves everyone else unable to pay and requires
that they be incarcerated. Since they’re eternal beings and have
committed crimes against eternity, and since they’ll never be able to
pay, they’ll have to remain incarcerated forever.

It is my fervent
prayer that if you’re reading this and you have not accepted the Lord’s
death as payment in full for your sins, you will not let another day go
by without doing so. None of us is privileged to know the number of
our days. Each new one could be our last. Please don’t tarry. Selah
05-30-15.

A Christmas Reflection from the Light Seed

This is a Christmas message that I repost every year because of its timelessness. I hope that it will bless you and that the seeds of love, truth, hope and joy planted in your heart by the Lord will flourish as Aaron´s almond rod of authority and service and nourish the hungry and thirsty around us.

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Copyright. Droits d'Auteurs. Rediffusion. Direitos Autorais

I claim no right as an author. I didn't create the mind, my brain, my hands, nor any of my senses through which I perceive the world around me. Therefore, I invite anybody if you see any benefit or blessing in the posts, to print, reproduce or distribute the contents of this blog I wrote personally. Jesus said: "Freely you have received, freely give". John the Baptist said: "One can receive only what has been given him from above". I would suggest you ask for spiritual discernment with checking in the Word of God what is right, true, noble, pure, lovely, beneficial as coming from God. I am just offering and sharing free of any restrictions the things that I deem worthy of passing on to any one willing to spend a little time and walk with me along life's highway so we can learn and grow together. Give thanks to and Praise God for the wonderful things he has done.

The Joshua Tree - An original parable/allegory by this blogger.

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God (Genesis 21:33). Here is old Abraham just planting a tree and living by his well. Why are we told this? It is symbolic of what is taking place in his heart and life. The tree immediately brings to mind Psalm 1, which says the man of God will be like a tree planted by rivers of living water, bringing forth its fruit in season. Here is a life that is fruitful, that is concerned about those immediately around and is pouring out blessing into their lives and hearts. Excerpts from Ray Stedman´s devotion: "This Thirsty World" https://www.raystedman.org/daily-devotions/genesis-12to25/this-thirsty-world

Original Love Poems by this Blogger

Excellent Free Bible Software

Now you can download an excellent Bible software on your PC and/or your USB flash drive. It contains easy to navigate and efficient interface, free add-ons modules, Bibles in English, foreign languages, Dictionaries, Commentaries, everything you need to help you study the Bible.

Testimony/Sermon of an Abortion Survivor

SUICIDE WATCH

I am sure most of you have known at some time in your life a person who wanted or attempted to end their life or succeeded in doing so. Personally, I have known a number of such people. I, myself had such an episode as an adolescent.

More and more I am reading and hearing about people young, old, male, female, gender and age don´t matter that add their lives to this problem of epidemic proportion in our society. Whatever the cause, we can all do something however small to save lives.

No need to have a psych. degree or to be licensed. An understanding heart, a listening ear is sometimes all that it takes to help weaker, more sensitive people overcome the hopelessness that drives fellow human beings to discard the gift of human life.

Please, take a few minutes to read below the few examples and testimonies about suicide. And please pass it on, if that´s all you feel inclined to do. Thank you.

HE INVITES SUICIDE JUMPERS FOR A CUP OF TEA

Don Ritchie moved to a house outside Sydney, Australia, for the clifftop view. But soon he was stopping suicides by inviting potential jumpers inside for a cup of tea.

Don Ritchie has been awarded a medal for bravery and an Order of Australia (the nation’s second highest honor) for averting hundreds of would-be suicides by approaching people and offering them a cup of tea. ‘I used to sell kitchen scales and bacon cutters,’ he says. Now, ‘I’m trying to sell people life.’